The allotment of time by Ian Beesley, Tony Husband & Ian McMillan

Abstract

The allotment of time
was produced as part of the ‘A Life More Ordinary’ project. Through collaboration with people who have dementia, carers, relatives and other supporters, the project aims to create a series of arts-based activities and outputs which provide a positive but realistic look at the experiences of those living with dementia and the individuals behind the diagnosis.

For this first chapbook in the series, Ian Beesley (photographer), Tony Husband (cartoonist) and Ian McMillan (poet) held a series of workshops in 2016 with Age UK Exeter’s ‘Budding Friends’ group. The artists spent time with the group—including those with dementia, their partners and volunteers—both on their rapidly growing allotment and indoors. Members of the group shared their images and stories, both from the past and in the present, and joined in activities with the artists. The chapbook presents some of the images and poems produced during the workshops on the theme of ‘The Allotment of Time’. We thank the group for their willingness to be involved, for their openness and honesty, and for the non-stop laughter during each session.

'A life More Ordinary' is funded by the ESRC (ES/M50046X/1) and is linked with the IDEAL study. The study examines what aspects of the social situation or the psychological resources that people with dementia and their families have that help or hinder their ability to live well. The IDEAL study is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (UK) and the National Institute for Health Research (UK) through grant ES/L001853/2 'Improving the experience of dementia and enhancing active life: living well with dementia' (Investigators: Investigators: L. Clare, I.R. Jones, C.Victor, J.V. Hindle, R.W.Jones, M.Knapp, M.Kopelman, R.Litherland, A.Martyr, F.Matthews, R.G.Morris, S.M.Nelis, J.Pickett, C.Quinn, J.Rusted, J.Thom). The support of the ESRC and NIHR is gratefully acknowledged. (ES/L001853/2). For more information please see: www.idealproject.org.uk. Follow us on twitter: @IDEALStudyTweet